The control efficacy and mechanism of Talaromyces purpurogenus on Fusarium wilt of bitter gourd

Bitter gourd wilt, a vascular wilt disease caused by the soil borne plant pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. momordicae (FOM), significantly limits bitter gourd production. In this study, we have investigated the biological control efficacy and mechanism of bitter gourd wilt by Talaromyces purpurogenus strain Q2. We have found that application of strain Q2 could promote the growth of bitter gourd and decrease the development of Fusarium wilt, and the control efficacy was up to 63.7% (susceptible bitter gourd '9208′) and 48.7% (resistant bitter gourd '09-3-55'). The results of RNA-seq suggested that the lignin biosynthesis pathway and photosynthesis involved in the bitter gourd response to the infection of F. oxysporum f. sp. momordicae. Strain Q2 could enhance the resistance of bitter gourd to FOM by activating the lignin biosynthesis pathway and promoting the growth of bitter gourd. Collectivity, strain Q2 that isolated from highly pathogenic soil of Fusarium wilt, can more effectively control Fusarium wilt of bitter gourd.